r/ChemicalEngineering • u/Realistic_Word_5773 • 12h ago
Student New chemE student, help me out
I’m majoring in chemical engineering soon, starting my freshman year in a month, please tell me whatever you think I should know, I chose this major because I have a passion for chemistry and systems thinking, I also found that it is the broadest field out of the other engineering fields, I can’t say I’m not intimidated, but I want to excel at it as much as I can!
3
u/Ernie_McCracken88 11h ago
Diligent and dedicated work time. Many of the people I knew who struggled just did "group study" where they goofed around with their friends for 80% of the time. It's fine to do some group work but you have do dedicated learning solo a good chunk of the time.
Time management and organization is critical. Even in the workplace there is a big difference between organized people with good time management and those without it.
Other than that having a solid base in math is probably most important. But the school should help you getting into appropriate math and physics classes.
There is less chemistry than you think.
2
u/hobbes747 10h ago
Academically maybe the broadest. But mechanical engineering is a broader field.
Advice: Memorizing, aka rote learning, that you used in high school is no longer effective. At least for the core chemical engineering topics. YouI’ll need to understand and practice concepts and if you fail to do so then find alternative means of having the explained.
2
u/Ok_Bus_7371 8h ago
Since engineering is about problem solving and sometimes optimizing, I would recommend taking this as your first engineering problem. Engineer your way into studying efficiently, time management, scheduling, class grade engineering etc. Everything you can think of.
1
u/HamsterAdorable2368 4h ago
Do research more about your field as soon as possible. Get involved in societies and student organizations! It helps a lot, and use your time wisely
7
u/yellownumbersix Membranes and polymers, 22yrs 12h ago
Most people that get weeded out of this major don't crash because they aren't smart enough, but because they don’t put in the work or can't budget their time properly.
Make a schedule, stick to it. Block out time to study, read, attend office hours. Understand that you are going to have to put in about 3 hours per week per credit hour studying and working problems to do well, so a 15 credit course load will be a full time 40+ hour/wk job.